Asterix and Obelix vs Caesar
Encyclopedia
Asterix & Obelix Take On Caesar (French: Astérix & Obélix contre César, Asterix & Obelix vs. Caesar in some regions) is a 1999 feature film
directed by Claude Zidi
, the first of what went on to become a series of live-action films
based on Goscinny and Uderzo's Astérix
comics. The film combines elements of the plots of several Astérix stories, most from Asterix the Gaul
(Getafix's abduction), Asterix and the Soothsayer
, Asterix and the Goths
(the Druid conference), Asterix the Legionary
(Obelix
becoming smitten with Panacea) and Asterix the Gladiator
(the characters fighting in the circus) but jokes and references from many other albums abound, including a humorous exchange between Caesar
and Brutus
taken from Asterix and Cleopatra
, and the villain Lucius Detritus is based on Tullius Detritus, the main antagonist of Asterix and the Roman Agent
(known as Tortuous Convolvulus in the English translation of the comic).
At the time of its release, the film was the most expensive production in French cinema
of all time, making it the most expensive production in France for the twentieth century. It was surpassed by the sequel, Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra
, in 2002.
is celebrating his victory over all of Gaul, but Lucius Detritus has kept from him the setback that one small village is holding out against the invaders. Detritus travels to the garrison near the village where Crismus Bonus, the garrison's commanding Centurion
, explains that the Gauls have a magic potion brewed for them by their Druid which makes them invincible. Detritus decides he must capture the potion for himself, and hearing that the clever Asterix and permanently invincible Obelix are the backbone of the Gaulish forces, attempts to eliminate them, though his first attempt fails.
A false soothsayer arrives at the village and predicts the arrival of Romans and treasure; despite Asterix's protestations, the village is taken in and, when a Roman tax collector arrives, they drive off his forces and take the gold. The "soothsayer" later drugs and hypnotises Asterix to create a diversion while he makes off with the tax money, but news of the theft reaches Caesar, who comes to the garrison himself, demanding the legion attack. He witnesses the defeat of his army and is taunted by Asterix and Obelix; he demands Detritus subdue the village or be fed to the lions.
Detritus disguises himself and some men as Druids and kidnaps Panoramix (Getafix) as he is attending a Druid conference. Asterix disguises Obelix as a legionary, and they enter the garrison to rescue the Druid, but are separated. Asterix joins Getafix in the dungeon, where the pair resist Detritus' demands to make the magic potion, until he tortures Idefix (Dogmatix). Detritus uses the potion to throw Caesar into a cell (locked in an iron mask), and takes command with an oblivious Obelix as his bodyguard. Eventually Obelix helps Asterix, Getafix and Dogmatix to escape, and they also bring the prisoner in the mask.
Caesar makes a deal with the Gauls to help him defeat Detritus, who mounts an all-out attack on the villagers using his own magic potion. To defeat him, Panoramix brews a special version of the potion using a rare ingredient which creates dozens of duplicates of Asterix and Obelix. Caesar is returned to power, and he grants the village its freedom.
and Roland Romanelli
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
directed by Claude Zidi
Claude Zidi
Claude Zidi is a French film director and screenwriter who is noted for his mainstream burlesque comedies. Born in Paris, he started as a cameraman and then cinematographer, and made his directorial and screenwriting debut in 1971...
, the first of what went on to become a series of live-action films
Asterix films (live)
- Astérix & Obélix: Mission Cléopâtre :In Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra, Asterix and Obelix travel to Egypt to help architect Numerobis to build a palace for queen Cleopatra in 90 days because of a bet she made with Julius Caesar....
based on Goscinny and Uderzo's Astérix
Asterix
Asterix or The Adventures of Asterix is a series of French comic books written by René Goscinny and illustrated by Albert Uderzo . The series first appeared in French in the magazine Pilote on October 29, 1959...
comics. The film combines elements of the plots of several Astérix stories, most from Asterix the Gaul
Asterix the Gaul
Asterix the Gaul is the first volume of the Asterix comic strip series, by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo .-Plot summary:...
(Getafix's abduction), Asterix and the Soothsayer
Asterix and the Soothsayer
Asterix and the Soothsayer is the nineteenth volume of the Asterix comic book series, by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo . It was originally serialized in Pilote issues 652-673 in 1972.-Plot summary:...
, Asterix and the Goths
Asterix and the Goths
Asterix and the Goths is the third volume of the Asterix comic book series, by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo . It was first published in 1963 in French and translated into English in 1974.-Plot summary:...
(the Druid conference), Asterix the Legionary
Asterix the Legionary
Asterix the Legionary is the tenth Asterix book in the Asterix comic book series by Rene Goscinny and Albert Uderzo. It was first published as a serial in Pilote magazine, issues 368-389, in 1966.-Synopsis:...
(Obelix
Obelix
Obelix is a fictional character from the French comic book series Asterix. He works as a menhir sculptor and deliveryman, and is Asterix's best friend. Obelix is noted for his fatness, the menhirs he carries around on his back and his superhuman strength...
becoming smitten with Panacea) and Asterix the Gladiator
Asterix the Gladiator
Asterix the Gladiator is the fourth volume of the Asterix comic book series, by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo . It was first serialized in the magazine Pilote, issues 126-168, in 1962.-Plot summary:...
(the characters fighting in the circus) but jokes and references from many other albums abound, including a humorous exchange between Caesar
Julius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman and a distinguished writer of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the gradual transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....
and Brutus
Brutus
Brutus is the cognomen of the Roman gens Junia, a prominent family of the Roman Republic. The plural of Brutus is Bruti, and the vocative form is Brute, as immortalized in the quotation "Et tu, Brute?", from Shakespeare's play, Julius Caesar....
taken from Asterix and Cleopatra
Asterix and Cleopatra
Asterix and Cleopatra is the sixth book in the Asterix comic book series by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo. It was first published in serial form in Pilote magazine, issues 215-257, in 1963.-Synopsis:...
, and the villain Lucius Detritus is based on Tullius Detritus, the main antagonist of Asterix and the Roman Agent
Asterix and the Roman Agent
Asterix and the Roman Agent is the fifteenth volume of the Asterix comic book series, by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo...
(known as Tortuous Convolvulus in the English translation of the comic).
At the time of its release, the film was the most expensive production in French cinema
Cinema of France
The Cinema of France comprises the art of film and creative movies made within the nation of France or by French filmmakers abroad.France is the birthplace of cinema and was responsible for many of its early significant contributions. Several important cinematic movements, including the Nouvelle...
of all time, making it the most expensive production in France for the twentieth century. It was surpassed by the sequel, Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra
Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra
Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra, originally titled Astérix & Obélix: Mission Cléopâtre, is a 2002 French-German film based on the comic book Astérix et Cléopatre by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo and a sequel for the 1999 movie Asterix & Obelix Take On Caesar. It was the most expensive French...
, in 2002.
Plot
Julius CaesarJulius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman and a distinguished writer of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the gradual transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....
is celebrating his victory over all of Gaul, but Lucius Detritus has kept from him the setback that one small village is holding out against the invaders. Detritus travels to the garrison near the village where Crismus Bonus, the garrison's commanding Centurion
Centurion
A centurion was a professional officer of the Roman army .Centurion may also refer to:-Military:* Centurion tank, British battle tank* HMS Centurion, name of several ships and a shore base of the British Royal Navy...
, explains that the Gauls have a magic potion brewed for them by their Druid which makes them invincible. Detritus decides he must capture the potion for himself, and hearing that the clever Asterix and permanently invincible Obelix are the backbone of the Gaulish forces, attempts to eliminate them, though his first attempt fails.
A false soothsayer arrives at the village and predicts the arrival of Romans and treasure; despite Asterix's protestations, the village is taken in and, when a Roman tax collector arrives, they drive off his forces and take the gold. The "soothsayer" later drugs and hypnotises Asterix to create a diversion while he makes off with the tax money, but news of the theft reaches Caesar, who comes to the garrison himself, demanding the legion attack. He witnesses the defeat of his army and is taunted by Asterix and Obelix; he demands Detritus subdue the village or be fed to the lions.
Detritus disguises himself and some men as Druids and kidnaps Panoramix (Getafix) as he is attending a Druid conference. Asterix disguises Obelix as a legionary, and they enter the garrison to rescue the Druid, but are separated. Asterix joins Getafix in the dungeon, where the pair resist Detritus' demands to make the magic potion, until he tortures Idefix (Dogmatix). Detritus uses the potion to throw Caesar into a cell (locked in an iron mask), and takes command with an oblivious Obelix as his bodyguard. Eventually Obelix helps Asterix, Getafix and Dogmatix to escape, and they also bring the prisoner in the mask.
Caesar makes a deal with the Gauls to help him defeat Detritus, who mounts an all-out attack on the villagers using his own magic potion. To defeat him, Panoramix brews a special version of the potion using a rare ingredient which creates dozens of duplicates of Asterix and Obelix. Caesar is returned to power, and he grants the village its freedom.
Differences from the books
- It is revealed early in the film that the magic potion used by the Gauls only lasts for ten minutes. No such time limit is ever implied in the original albums, where appearances seem to suggest that the potion's effects can last for several hours, such as disguised legionary Caligula Minus holding a rock up for several hours in Asterix the GaulAsterix the GaulAsterix the Gaul is the first volume of the Asterix comic strip series, by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo .-Plot summary:...
or crooked adviser Codfix retaining superhuman strength until well into the daytime after drinking a ladelful of potion at night in Asterix and the Great DivideAsterix and the Great DivideAsterix and the Great Divide is the twenty-fifth volume of the Asterix comic book series. It was first published in 1980.-Plot summary:In a village similar to Asterix's, two rival chiefs, Cleverdix and Majestix, have been elected...
. - In the books Geriatrix is 100% devoted to his wife, who doesn't appear to care much for his actions. In the movie she strongly cares about him and worries every times he wants to join in for a fight, while he ignores her wishes to stay in the house and acts cranky to her.
- In the book Asterix and the Roman AgentAsterix and the Roman AgentAsterix and the Roman Agent is the fifteenth volume of the Asterix comic book series, by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo...
, a character named Detritus (in the original French version) was an agent of Caesar who was a master of manipulating people. In the movie Detritus is a Roman Centurion whose personality appears to be more based on Crismus Bonus from Asterix the GaulAsterix the GaulAsterix the Gaul is the first volume of the Asterix comic strip series, by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo .-Plot summary:...
or Felonius Caucus from the book Asterix and the Big FightAsterix and the Big FightAsterix and the Big Fight is a French comic book, the seventh in the Asterix comic book series. It was written by René Goscinny and illustrated by Albert Uderzo. Its original French title is Le Combat des chefs and it was first published in serial form in Pilote magazines, issues 261-302, in 1964... - Getafix's grandfather, who appears in the movie, is a completely new character, not mentioned in any of the books.
- In the books, Obelix's affection for Panacea was mostly over the top comedic and he never appears to say a single word when she was around. In the movie, however, the romance is played for dramatic effect and is taken much more seriously.
- Prolix's two henchmen are new characters, not seen in the books.
- Dogmatix appears to be Asterix's dog in the movie, not Obelix's.
Cast
- Christian ClavierChristian ClavierChristian Clavier is a French actor. He is the brother of French film director Stéphane Clavier.-Biography:After his high class studies at the Neuilly Lycée Pasteur—though asserted here and there, he never studied at Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris —he started his acting career with the...
(English: Olaf Wijnants): AstérixAsterixAsterix or The Adventures of Asterix is a series of French comic books written by René Goscinny and illustrated by Albert Uderzo . The series first appeared in French in the magazine Pilote on October 29, 1959... - Gérard DepardieuGérard DepardieuGérard Xavier Marcel Depardieu is a French actor and filmmaker. He is a Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur, Chevalier of the Ordre national du Mérite and has twice won the César Award for Best Actor...
(English: Terry JonesTerry JonesTerence Graham Parry Jones is a Welsh comedian, screenwriter, actor, film director, children's author, popular historian, political commentator, and TV documentary host. He is best known as a member of the Monty Python comedy team....
): ObélixObelixObelix is a fictional character from the French comic book series Asterix. He works as a menhir sculptor and deliveryman, and is Asterix's best friend. Obelix is noted for his fatness, the menhirs he carries around on his back and his superhuman strength... - Roberto BenigniRoberto BenigniRoberto Remigio Benigni, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI is an Italian actor, comedian, screenwriter and director of film, theatre and television.- Early years :...
(English: Johnnie Lyne-Pirkis): Lucius Detritus (Tortuous Convolvulus / Tullius Destructivus) - Michel GalabruMichel GalabruMichel Louis Edmond Galabru is a French actor born on 27 October 1922 in Safi, Morocco.-Career:Over the course of his career, Galabru appeared in over 200 movies and worked with such renowned directors as Bertrand Blier, Costa-Gavras, Luc Besson , and Jean-Luc Godard...
(English: Douglas BlackwellDouglas BlackwellDouglas Blackwell was an English actor with many television and film credits.Douglas blackwell is also the name pod many children it is the 17 most common first namee...
) : Abraracourcix (named "Vitalstatistix" in English) - Claude PiépluClaude PiépluClaude Léon Auguste Piéplu was a French film and television actor.-Filmography:*Shadoks et le Big Blank, Les *Astérix et Obélix contre César *Chapeau bas...
(English: John BaddeleyJohn Baddeley (actor)Edward John Baddeley is a British actor. Apart from his work in the theatre in the provinces and the West End, he is also notable for his work with the BBC and as voice-over artist...
): Panoramix (Getafix) - Daniel PrévostDaniel PrévostDaniel Prévost is a French actor and humorist.Daniel Prevost is notably known for his part in the French television series Le Petit Rapporteur.-Early life and Family:...
(English: Harry Barrowclough) : Prolix - Pierre PalmadePierre PalmadePierre Palmade is a French actor and comedian.-Biography:He has done dubbing for the films, Pédale douce and Pédale dure...
: Assurancetourix (Cacofonix) - Laetitia CastaLaetitia CastaLaetitia Marie Laure Casta is a French model and actress.-Early life:Laetitia Casta was born in Pont-Audemer, Normandy, France. Her mother, Line Blin, is from Normandy. Her father, Dominique Casta, is from Corsica. She has an older brother, Jean-Baptiste, and a younger sister, Marie-Ange...
: Falbala (Panacea) - Arielle DombasleArielle DombasleArielle Dombasle is a French-American singer, actress, director and model. Her breakthrough roles were in Éric Rohmer's Pauline at the Beach and Alain Robbe-Grillet's The Blue Villa...
: Mme Agecanonix (Mrs Geriatrix) - SimSim (actor)Sim was a French humorist, writer and comedian.Born as Simon Jacques Eugène Berryer, he was part of the team of Les Grosses Têtes, a humoristic program on radio and TV...
: Agecanonix (Geriatrix) - Marianne SägebrechtMarianne SägebrechtMarianne Sägebrecht is a German film actress.Her background included stints as a medical lab assistant and magazine assistant editor before she found her calling in show business...
: Bonnemine (Impedimenta) - Gottfried JohnGottfried John-Life and work:During the 1970s and early 1980s, Gottfried John played various roles in films by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, notably that of Reinhold in the epic Berlin Alexanderplatz . He is internationally known for his portrayals of General Ourumov in the James Bond film GoldenEye and Julius...
(English: Peter MarinkerPeter MarinkerPeter Marinker is a Canadian actor well known for his role as Kiichi Goto in the Patlabor series and his many audio book recordings. He currently resides in the UK.-Filmography:*A Wind Named Amnesia as Simpson*Angel Cop as Dr...
) : Jules César / Julius Caesar - Jean-Pierre CastaldiJean-Pierre CastaldiJean-Pierre Castaldi is a French actor. He is the father of French TV presenter Benjamin Castaldi.- Selected filmography :-References:...
(English: Rodney Beddal) : Caius Bonus - Jean-Roger Milo : Cetautomatix (Fulliautomatix)
- Jean-Jacques Devaux : Ordralfabetix (Unhygenix)
Soundtrack
Soundtrack by Jean-Jacques GoldmanJean-Jacques Goldman
Jean-Jacques Goldman is a Grammy Awards-winning French singer-songwriter. He is hugely popular in the French-speaking world, and since 2003 was the second-highest-grossing French living pop singer, after Johnny Hallyday.- Biography :...
and Roland Romanelli
- "Elle ne me voit pas" - 4:26
- "Lei non vede me" - 4:26
- "Asterix et Obelix contre César" - 2:20
- "L'Embuscade" - 2:07
- "L'Amour" - 3:52
- "Le Cirque Encore" - 5:15
- "La Serpe D'or" - 4:07
- "Falbala" - 1:48
- "Le Devin" - 2:43
- "L'Amour Toujours" - 3:45
- "Les Hallucinations D'Astérix" - 2:56
- "La Potion Magique" - 3:14
- "Bélenos" - 7:18
- "Obélix" - 3:44
Accolades
- Golden Screen (1999)
- Bogey Award in Silver (1999)
- Bavarian Film Award (2000)